…these “Portland-only” taxes are driving lower class people out of Portland. Measure 26-201 makes life even more unaffordable by raising costs of the goods we buy.

4. Portland already raised the local business tax 13-18% last May. Measure 26-201 hits businesses with a SECOND tax hike in a single year!

5. In 2018, the Oregon Legislature approved 560 fee increases which driving up the cost of living for the middle class. Measure 26-201 drives up prices further for the same middle class already struggling.

6. Reckless “clean energy” mis-spending. An official 2016 State Audit of Oregon’s clean energy BETC project found that more than 25% of the clean energy funds were mis-spent. That’s 25% funds mis-spent! Measure 26-201 appears to have less safeguards against fraud and abuse than the 2016 “clean energy” tax scandal that sent several Oregonians to jail.

7. More reckless “clean energy” mis-spending. In a completely different clean energy scandal, The Oregonian reports that a local Portland environmental businesses is accused of mis-spending $8 million of tax dollars causing state officials to demand a refund (Oregonian 9-5-18). Measure 26-201 creates a clean energy slush fund with little oversight and run by unelected people which makes it ripe for abuse and scandal.

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